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State Lawmakers Take Another Look at Corrections Overhaul

Kevin Lavery, WKAR

(Lansing-MPRN) - Bills meant to gradually reduce Michigan’s prison population and bring down costs have new life in the state Legislature.  The legislation went down in flames at the end of the last legislative session, in part because state Attorney General Bill Schuette and law enforcement groups said they didn’t have enough time to assess the bills. Now, the chair of the state House Criminal Justice Committee is spearheading a new effort to pass the measures - even though he voted against similar bills last session.

Rep. Kurt Heise, R-Plymouth Twp., says the legislation was moving too quickly and he felt the bills should have been scrutinized in his committee.

“I’m aware that there’s a lot of support for these bills in both parties and in both chambers, and I’m committed to getting these vetted and moving out in a more methodical manner with all of the parties at the table,”

said Heise. But he admits it won’t be easy to reach a compromise.

“If these bills are going to make it to the House floor, it’s going to be another one of these situations where nobody gets what they want.”

Former state Rep. Joe Haveman, R-Holland, led the unsuccessful effort last session. He says lawmakers don’t have to start from scratch this time around.

“The hard work is done, the lifting is there. Now it’s reaching a compromise and reaching an agreement that everybody can live with,”

said Haveman. Michigan spends about $2 billion a year on corrections. That’s more than any other state department – although that will change when the Michigan Department of Community Health and the Michigan Department of Human Services officially merge into one very large department in early April. Haveman says the legislation would gradually bring down costs without compromising public safety. He says the primary goal of the bills is to intervene before people enter the prison system in the first place.

The former lawmaker also says he is considering offering to head up a new panel to review criminal sentencing guidelines. The two bills in Haveman’s original corrections package that did pass last year created the Justice Policy Commission. Sources close to the issue have said they want Haveman to lead that commission, in part because of his connections in the Legislature.

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